Occupation

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

Human Advantage 68%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
3 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.

Also Known As: AC/DC Rewinder (Alternating Current and Direct Current Rewinder), Armature Rewinder, Armature Winder Repairer, Auto Generator Starter Rep (Automotive Generator Starter Representative), Automotive Starter Repairer, Battery Charger, Battery Inspector, Battery Mechanic +77 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
  2. Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
  3. Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
  4. Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  5. Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
  6. Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
  7. Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
  8. Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
  9. Lubricate moving parts.
  10. Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
  11. Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
  12. Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
  13. Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.

Supplemental Tasks (18)

  1. Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
  2. Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
  3. Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
  4. Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
  5. Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
  6. Maintain stocks of parts.
  7. Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
  8. Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
  9. Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
  10. Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
  11. Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
  12. Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
  13. Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
  14. Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
  15. Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
  16. Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
  17. Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
  18. Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
39%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
31%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
20%
Some College Courses
8%
Less than a High School Diploma
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Python
  • SAP software

Software (12)

  • Commutator profiling software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Motor testing software

Tools & Equipment (89)

  • Abrasive blasting machines
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Air grinders
  • Alignment lasers
  • Analog ohmmeters
  • Arbor presses
  • Armature air gap gauges
  • Armature winders
  • Automatic wire strippers
  • Bake ovens
  • Bar-to-bar testers
  • Bearing puller sets
  • Bearing setting tools
  • Bench ammeters
  • Bench grinders
  • Bench voltmeters
  • Brazing machines
  • Cabinet-tip screwdrivers
  • Cable cutters
  • Carburetor synchronizers
  • Chamfer mills
  • Clamp ammeters
  • Clamp voltmeters
  • Coil cut-off machines
  • Commutator grinders
  • Commutator undercutters
  • Conduit-fitting and reaming screwdrivers
  • Cordless soldering irons
  • Core-loss testers
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Diagonal-cutting pliers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital ohmmeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Digital tachometers
  • Dip tanks
  • Dry ice blasters
  • Electric coil winders
  • Electric welders
  • Electricians' knives
  • Electro-brush platers
  • Forklift trucks
  • Gas welders
  • Growler armature testers
  • Hand saws
  • Handheld power grinders
  • Handheld wire strippers
  • Hydraulic wire crimpers
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Insulation trimmers
  • Keystone-tip screwdrivers
  • Knurling tool attachments
  • Lamination tooth straighteners
  • Light emitting diode LED voltage tester
  • Longnosed pliers
  • Measuring tapes
  • Meggers
  • Neon voltage testers
  • Nut wrenches
  • Nylon hammers
  • Paint booths
  • Parts washers
  • Personal computers
  • Phase rotation indicators
  • Portable vibration testers
  • Power dynamometers
  • Pump pliers
  • Rawhide mallets
  • Repairman's stethoscopes
  • Rubber-grip hacksaws
  • Series solenoid voltage testers
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Slot cleaning brushes
  • Slot shavers
  • Square-recess tip screwdrivers
  • Surge testers
  • Tablet computers
  • Thermal cameras
  • Threaders
  • Torpedo levels
  • Twin wheel wire strippers
  • Utility knives
  • Vacuum impregnators
  • Vibration analyzers
  • Volt-ammeters
  • Wedge drivers
  • Winder's shears
  • Winding testers
  • Wire cutters

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Industrial Machinery Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers You are here

Maintenance & Repair Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers You are here

Ground & Rail Transportation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers You are here

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